4.5 Stars!

A Covert Affair was a fantastic continuation of the Librarian and the Spy Escapades series with an intriguing mission and wonderful development in the characters' relationship.

Agent-in-training Quinn Ellington is currently working in the CIA library while she completes the rest of her training to become a covert operative. First and foremost a librarian, it's no hardship for Quinn to work in the secret library. While attending an event at the Library of Congress with her handsome spy boyfriend James Anderson, the Indian ambassador is kidnapped and some sacred Hindu manuscripts are stolen. With a long lost sacred library at the heart of the kidnapping, Quinn is tasked with assisting James in locating the library and the ambassador. The pair travel to India to begin their investigation and soon discover their mission may be more complicated than they originally thought.

Quinn is an absolute delight and my bookish heart connects with her in a wonderful way. Quinn loves books in a way most people never will and embraces the librarian side of herself. She's fantastic at viewing problems in a different way than most and puts her librarian skills to use to discover information quickly. Quinn still worries about how good of a job she can do on her missions considering she has not completed all of her training. She's slowly learning to embrace her natural instincts and is turning into a fantastic spy.

Building upon their success from the mission in The Librarian and the Spy, Quinn and James continue to work well together. James has complete faith in Quinn's abilities and encourages her to trust her instincts. I enjoy their pairing both professionally and personally. There's a lot of fun and banter in their relationship and the two help each other stay centered. They both worry about the other's well being, but for the most part trust each other to get the job done. There are a few hiccups in their working together but they actually communicate their problems and work through them easily enough.

The plot surrounding the missing library was completely fascinating. After finishing the book, I looked into the library and the history surrounding it was quite interesting. It seems the author stuck very close to the truth and I appreciated the level of research she clearly did. As most of the book takes place in India, I got to experience a new place I hadn't read a book set in before. The author goes into great detail about the culture and while I don't know if everything is 100% accurate seeing as it isn't my culture, it was fun experiencing something completely new to me. The book has made me want to find books written by people who live in India and read first hand accounts of life there.

A Covert Affair was such a fun read and I'm excited to see what Quinn and James get up to in future installments. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun romance series that follows the same couple in each book.

Librarians solving mysteries and having adventures seems to be a new trend lately.. In addition this series, there's also a new cozy mystery with a librarian heroine, Blue Ridge Library Mysteries by Victoria Gilbert. I hope we'll see more librarian heroines. It's pretty cool to see them using their knowledge of books, and their computer and reference skills outside a library setting. Quinn Ellington, a reference librarian, has joined the CIA as librarian and is in training to be an agent. While still in training she and her boyfriend James are sent on assignment to India.

I was pretty happy so see that they were heading to India as I've always been fascinated by that country and few genre novels are set there, that I know of anyway. As I read the story and the historical events, I became curious if they had actually happened or if Mann invented them for the story; turns out they were real with a little artistic license taken. While I've never been to India, the details felt real, and I enjoyed seeing India though Quinn eyes. If I ever get to India, I want to go visit the Sikh Reference Library as it sounds amazing.

Quinn and James are cute together and really sweet. They're young, maybe mid 20s; in fact James seemed a little too young for his job and the missions he's supposedly been on. At times I felt like I was reading a slightly more grown up version of the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. If you are a serious suspense or action reader, this book probably won't meet your need. But if you like romance, humor, a little intrigue, and some action, you might like this book.

Some favorite quotes:

"It's part of the Kama Sutra written on palm leaves," he said and bent to get a closer look. "With illustrations, I see, although the pieces seem to be strategically places so we cant' see the, ah..." He stopped and tipped his head to one side. "Techniques."

"I could come here every day for weeks and not see everything. And that's not even counting if they let me in the book stacks." "They'd never be able to flush you out. I can hear the librarians now. 'We don't know where she hides exactly, but we put food out every night, and in the morning, it's gone."

The second book in the Librarian and the Spy Escapade, A COVERT AFFAIR by Susan Mann is just as much fun as the first! Quinn and James are wonderful together once again on their new adventure through India.
I really feel these books fill an interesting niche. They are action spy thrillers with romance, adventure and interesting, intelligent plots, but they are not as violent or strictly action driven as most in this genre. I like to call these books “cozy spy thrillers” and just what I am looking for to curl up with for an afternoon adventure.
Quinn Ellington has moved to D.C. and is now a reference librarian at the CIA. She will be training at The Farm to become an agent like her boyfriend, James Bond Anderson. Their relationship is progressing and it is because they are close and Quinn has a passionate love of books and knowledge that they are both sent on a mission as husband and wife to the Punjab district in India. To save a kidnapped ambassador’s life, they have to find and return a stolen Sikh library of historic and religious books.
Ms. Mann had me completely engrossed in the descriptions of India and especially the Punjab district. Her information on the Sikh culture and history displayed extensive research and it was well paced throughout the story without feeling like an info dump. The Indian characters were believable and empathetic.
Quinn is an empowered female heroine, who uses her intelligence as well as her physical prowess. James is her perfect hunky, spy hero who is also learning to not be overly protective and let Quinn investigate avenues on her own. Their banter is fun and entertaining. The sexual relationship is hot, but not overly explicit. This book can be read as a standalone, but Quinn and James’s relationship changes and grows in each book.
This is a series to follow!
Thanks very much to Kensington Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun romp heavy on the action, but not the steamy kind. A bit uneven but still an enjoyable librarian romance.

The second novel in the Librarian and the Spy Escapade series continues the adventures of resourceful librarian Quinn and her secret agent boyfriend James. (I recommend reading the series opener first to find out how their relationship begins, and how Quinn comes to be an agent-in-training with the CIA.)

I this novel, Quinn used her research skills to find a kidnapped ambassador and manuscript stolen during a formal event she and James attended at the Library of Congress. They travel to India, where the culture and setting are exquisitely rendered.

The novel successfully blends action, suspense, romance, and humor. A smart, strong, sexy protagonist who is passionate about books and uses her library skills so deftly is a treat.

I had been looking forward to this book ever since I read the first one. I love the premise of this series. It’s seriously like my own spy/librarian fantasies come true. Add to that a super hot spy boyfriend and I just can’t even stop reading this book! Just like the first book, this one is unique and you can totally tell the author’s ideas were heard and left in the book. To top it off, it was a bit of historical fiction woven into this romance/suspense genre. There really is nothing else to compare it to that I’ve read in contemporary romance. The setting is uniquely set in India, tracking down historical clues (that will eventually lead to missing library books….my inner dork sings). I find that most HEA romance books will not take place in India, exploring a sensitive topic. This is Mann working her super-librarian skills into her writing.

This is truly a must read for every librarian out there looking for a reading adventure and a book boyfriend. While not explicit, the sex is hot and the chemistry between Quinn and James remains off the charts. *fans self*

This series has been my guilty pleasure escape and I will recommend it to anyone who listens!

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written book. The book has a good plot and well developed characters. I enjoyed the author's writing and see myself reading more of her work.

Quinn Ellington is working her way to becoming a fully-fledged agent with the CIA. So far, she's learnt a lot of skills that come in handy for her latest assignment alongside her handsome boyfriend, James, when an Indian ambassador is kidnapped during a Library of Congress event. Will Quinn and James be able to save the ambassador or will their cover be exposed and put them at risk?

Having really enjoyed the first book of this series, I was really looking forward to reading this second book, and I've got to say that it's just as good as book one in the way that it offers plenty of action and intrigue, took me by surprise when it came to the person responsible for the kidnapping, and kept me captivated from start to finish due to the wonderful main and secondary characters, especially the heroine because of her obsession with everything to do with libraries Seriously, she's a total nerd that loves books and helping people find information they need. The way this story started had me hooked, as Quinn and James make such a great couple and I always enjoy the way they tease each other. However, it's from the moment the kidnapping happens where things gets very interesting and intriguing in this story. Will Quinn and James be able to locate the kidnapped ambassador? Will they be able to take down the person responsible for the kidnapping?

As for the dialogue, it was well-written, intense due to what the hero and heroine uncover in their investigation and full of intrigue and action due to the kidnapping and when Quinn and James go up against the bad guys. Moreover, the heroine is strong, brave and I liked how determined she was to prove she has what it takes to make a great CIA agent. I also liked that she wasn't afraid to do things on her own, even if James believes it may be too dangerous for her and is likely to worry. Yet, what I liked most about the heroine is how resourceful she is in uncovering information they need in their investigation. Will it lead her to the bad guys? While the hero, he's confident, protective and I love how he teases the heroine about being too much of a nerd and her occupation as a librarian. Luckily, Quinn takes the teasing as a compliment and not a criticism.

Overall, Ms. Mann has penned an exciting and thrilling read in this book where the chemistry between this couple is intense; the romance wonderfully passionate with James determined to show Quinn how much she means to him; and the ending had me on the edge-of-my-seat due to what this couple face. Will they win against the bad guys? However, it was right at the end of this book that I loved, as James realizes that their relationship can't continue like it is, especially since they work for the CIA. Meaning lots of undercover assignments to different places around the world, which would keep them apart. Will they commit to each other or go their separate ways? I would recommend A Covert Affair by Susan Mann, if you enjoy romantic suspense or books by authors Katie Reus, Liliana Hart, Janie Crouch and Kat Martin.

I really liked this book, and am looking forward to the next one.

Romantic Suspense published by Zebra Shout 29 Aug 11 
Bollywood meets the CIA in this latest spy thriller from a new to me author.  Quinn Ellington is a spy in training when a coveted invitation to a showing of rare Indian manuscripts lands her in the middle of a terrorist incident.  Stringing together a bunch of random facts and soon she's winging to India with her CIA boyfriend James to investigate the truth behind the terrorist claims. 

As they arrive in bustling Amritsar home to one of the Sikh's holiest shrines the Golden Temple they start combing for clues along with a resident CIA spook stationed there.   While the author has done a great job of portraying a challenging period in India's history with a rare sensitivity I was amazed that a heroine of Quinn's caliber who seems to be one step ahead of everyone in terms of knowledge and research would actually think that she's going to be served eyeball curry ala shades of Indiana Jones. 
The author has done her research in the telling of the history of the Golden Temple and the events of the 1984 raid on the temple when the militants Sikhs were holed up there. Quinn approaches the temple and Indian customs with a rare sensitivity that is not always displayed by foreign visitors. Good job on the detailed research and history by the author.  What are the odds that someone familiar with the history and culture would pick this book to read?
In true Bollywood fashion Quinn and James make themselves at home in Amritsar even wrangling a rare wedding invitation to a wealthy industrialist's son.  Of course the downside is that having grown up in India I would never dare to drive amidst the teeming humanity and drivers gone mad so I'm impressed or disbelieving of how comfortably James and Quinn move around the city in their little rented Alto.
All in all a fun romp if you can stop being over critical about some of the details that don't hold water.

My favourite Spy loving Librarian is back! Quinn Ellington may be a librarian but she is also in training with the CIA to undertake covert operations. This will let her take missions under the tutelage of her boyfriend, and very own "James Bond", CIA Agent James Anderson. She may have fallen into the spy game accidentally but she comes from a strong spy background, care of her doting Grandfather.

When Quinn and James take an invitation to a new exhibit of rare manuscripts, they end up in the middle of a heist and a kidnapping! They are right in the thick of things and end up embroiled in an international rescue attempt involving an Ambassador, rare manuscripts and a deep and divisive history between the Sikh and Hindi faiths.

What follows is a really well researched and well constructed delve into Sikh/Hindi relations all contained within a spy story with a heavy dollop of romance. James is as compelling as ever and Quinn...well what she lacks in experience she makes up for in pluck and Librarian know how! She truly is a Ninja Librarian!

I loved how James and Quinn dealt with the struggles in their relationship and how they overcome forced separations due to missions, etc. I can't wait to see what happens next!

The more I read of Quinn and James, the Librarian and the Spy, the more I like them. The two of them have such great chemistry, their dialog showing their brains as well as their bodies are involved in this relationship. Quinn, again amazed me with her knowledge of, well, everything. She is a woman that girls like as well as the guys, and therefore very easy to relate to. James, is dashing, cheeky, and deadly with a weapon. He was protective of Quinn, yet, let her spread her wings and fly. You’ve got to admire that in a man you date, and I really like reading about a man who is comfortable with the strength of his woman.

The mystery, or escapade in this case, was fascinating. It takes place in India, and the historical aspects of this story were really interesting. The insight into Indian and Sikh culture was new for me and completely held my attention. The mix of history and spy romance felt unique and again I have to say that I think the cover for this novel does it a disservice. There is a lot of meat in this storyline, yet the cover makes it look like it’s a fluff novel. It is fun, but it’s not fluff. I enjoyed the first novel a lot and liked this one even more!

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for my honest review, and it was honest.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Quinn is now working for the CIA doing research and training as an agent.  She is loving the work, especially when she works with her spy boyfriend, James.  Since Quinn has relocated to the east coast, we see the progression of their relationship. Which I loved.  They are so into one another!

While they are attending an Indian ancient manuscript exhibition, the Indian Ambassador Sharma is kidnapped along with many of the manuscripts.  Soon Quinn and James are off to India to track down the kidnappers and figure out why the manuscripts were taken.  The amount of Indian history learned in this book is astounding!!

The author has weaved a story around a true historical event and it works wonderfully! Susan Mann took the time to explain about the thoughts and feelings of all the religions of India and how they intertwine. James and Quinn are tasked with finding the ambassador and solving the mystery of the missing books of the Sikh Reference Library.  How they find each piece of information and slowly put it all together, I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what comes up next!!

A Covert Affair is book two in the Librarian and the Spy series but it is easily read as a standalone novel.  Quinn and James actually meet in book one but the secondary characters are unique to this book! I really like the mix of romantic humor, adventure, and history.  Quinn and James are great together and I can't wait for book three, An Uncommon Honeymoon!  I'm sure it's going to be just as intriguing as books one and two!

reviewed by Deb

A Covert Affair by Susan Mann is the second book in her Librarian and the Spy Escapade series and was another fun and intriguing mystery.

Quinn is now at the CIA library but being trained as an agent, as well. She does love her work in the library but is over-the-moon about being trained as an operative. Her and James' relationship is growing and more of their characters is shown in this story. I also really enjoyed how much of the history of India and it's residents of all religions were described. I found this information to be vital to the overall plot as Quinn and James are assigned to hunt down a kidnapped ambassador and a lost treasure, the Sikh Reference Library. The facts regarding this part of Indian history was enlightening for me; and I appreciated the detail which Ms. Mann used to make this an integral part of the story.

A smoothly paced plot with facts, red herrings, and twists to keep me turning the pages to find out who was behind the kidnapping made an very enjoyable afternoon read.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Zebra Shout via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

LOVED this book! The unlikely partnership of Quinn, the reference librarian, and James, the very real spy, is delightful! In this book, Quinn is in training to become a spy herself, when she is called into action to partner with James on an investigation that has them traveling to India. I love the interactions between Quinn and James and especially love how passionate Quinn is about books. Additionally, the author has woven so much about India and its' history that, in addition to being fascinating, that it almost felt like a character itself.

Fans of the genre will love this book. While it is part of a series, this is a stand alone novel, however its so good that you really owe it to yourself to read them all.